Narrated by Khatija Rahman, ‘Stardust’ short film shines light on vanishing fireflies

A rare firefly gathering in Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai forests glows to life in ‘Stardust’, a poetic nature video voiced by Khatija Rahman

For a fleeting fortnight each year, the dense rainforests of the Anamalai in Tamil Nadu are transformed into a realm of bioluminescent magic. As the jungle darkens, it bursts into a silent symphony of light — millions of fireflies synchronising their flashes in one of the most enchanting natural phenomena one can witness. It is this rare and ephemeral spectacle that Stardust, a short film narrated by musician Khatija Rahman and directed by conservation filmmaker Pravin Shanmughanandam, seeks to capture and celebrate.

Unfolding over three years of painstaking fieldwork, Stardust is more than just a visual treat. It is a gentle reminder of the worlds that thrive silently around us and a call to reconnect with the rhythms of nature that modern life has taught us to ignore.

“For those of us growing up near the foothills, fireflies were always part of our childhood memories,” says Pravin, who hails from the region and is also the founder of The Pollachi Papyrus. “But somewhere along the way, because of light pollution, habitat loss or just not looking, we forgot them.”

That collective forgetting made their rediscovery all the more poignant. “When we first sighted this mass congregation, it was utterly mesmerising. We didn’t even know how to react or what to do with our cameras. It was only in the second year that we returned with a plan, better equipped and technically prepared to document them in such low-light conditions.”

Photographing in absolute darkness, and without using flashlights to avoid disturbing the insects, meant operating equipment by touch and relying on muscle memory. Occasionally, an infrared torch provided just enough visibility to frame a shot. 

But Stardust is not a scientific documentary. Instead, it takes a lyrical approach. Its visuals interspersed with a gentle, introspective narration by Khatija, composer AR Rahman’s daughter. Known for her work in music and cinema, Khatija found herself drawn to the project for personal reasons.

“The title ‘fireflies’ caught my eye immediately,” she says. “My debut film album is also called Minmini, so this felt like a beautiful, full-circle moment. A few years ago, I went on a boat ride in Malaysia with family to see fireflies, and now here I was, giving voice to a film about them.”